Cairngorm, United Kingdom

The Cairngorm ski resort is situated in Britain's largest National Park and about 10miles from Aviemore. As with every Scottish resort, conditions can be variable at best, and the wind can blow any fresh snow away before it gets chance to get a track through it. However in the right condtions it can be pretty good, but it's those conditions that bring out the crowds and the place can struggle to handle things.

After years of countless arguments with environmental bodies, sad bird watchers and squares from various rambling associations, the Cairngorm Mountain Company finally got the go ahead to build the first ever funicular railway in Great Britain. The funicular is also a big relief to first timers as the beginner slopes are up at the top on the Ciste, which used to be reached by the old chair lift that often had to be shut down due to high winds. The train is able to run in much greater winds and travels a distance of 1200 metres from the top car park up to the new Ptarmigan restaurant in around six minutes.

All the global warming doom and gloom was supposed to have brought an end to snowboarding in Scotland, but the 2009/10 season has been a bit of a blinder so far, and In 2007 the season started in late November and lasted until early May and 2008 was not far off that.  All in all Cairngorm offers some of the best overall terrain in Scotland and with 30km of slopes it is certainly the largest.

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CairnGorm in Kilts, world record attempt ... 24Feb10

• Patroller’s Blog “Snow Joke”
  
  Back Home after pulling out from the hill at 11.00am, The ploughs were struggling even to keep a single track on the down road. The wind was not really the problem but the volume of snow falling out of the sky, i knew we should not have tried to ... Thu 25 Feb 10
• Patroller’s Blog - “Big Dig Part Deux”
  
  Another challenging week for the team and machinery again, i think today is the first time i,ve had my skis on in over two weeks. Blizzard conditions hit us again on Wednesday and Thursday bringing everything to a standstill till the wind dropped. ... Sat 23 Jan 10
• Patroller’s Blog - “The Big Dig - Not Over Yet”
  
  There have been posts on other sites that we are requesting volunteers to come and help us with the digging, this is not the case. We have arranged for members of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, The Ski School,and G2 Outdoors ltd to assist us. ... Sat 16 Jan 10
• Patroller’s Blog - “Happy New Year Maybe”
  
  Good News and maybe bad news for the New Year, Today we have been skiing in awesome powder, those of us who could get here that is with about 2 feet of fresh pow in places and the Patrol ,Ski School and overnight campers having it all until around ... Thu 31 Dec 09
• Patroller’s Blog “A Winter’s Tale”
  
  I think the Christmas Snow Cannon fairie took pity on the lonely little snow cannon sitting at Cairngorm and decided to send tons of snow to the Mountain so he did not have to work over Christmas. As a result we now have great snowcover on the hill ... Thu 24 Dec 09
• “Patroller’s Blog” Real Snow
  
  Snow Cannon arrived this morning and one of the boys is bringing Glenshee’s portable pump over today as well so hopefully over the next few days we can get it set up and start playing around with it, however latest forecasts are suggesting ... Fri 18 Dec 09

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• Storm Skis Public Ski Tests
  
  Storm Skis Public ski test day. An opportunity to try before you buy. Watch out for the Storm Team on CAirnGorm on Sunday 11th April and go and talk ... Sun 11 Apr 10
• CAirnGorm Ski Hire Entertain for Cancer Research - Wizard of Oz
  
  CairnGorm Ski Hire Team produce their second entertainment theme of the season - Sunday 4th April. The Wizard of Oz. Staff will be dressed as Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Wicked Witches and Munchkins - all dressed up and possibly a song or two for ... Sun 04 Apr 10
• Highlander Slopestyle Competition - Scottish Freestyle Series
  
  Provisional date for the TTR SCottish Freestle Series event for CairnGorm Mountain. Watch this space for further information ... Sat 03 Apr 10
• Police Ski and Snowboard Championships
  
  The Police Ski and Snowboard Championships at CAirnGorm Mountain. Entry via the Police ... Mon 29 Mar 10

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Weather & conditions

• Cairngorm Ski Conditions
  
  Run Conditions:New snowfall on the top runs. Some icy patches around mid runs and the lower runs are soft. If going offpiste outside the main area there is probably still a risk of avalanche. We advise people not to ski alone and ... Mon 15 Mar 10

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Piste Map